Fierce Tamou disappointed he won't face Roosters enforcer

by jspasaro

Josh Spasaro
Sports Journalist

I spent four years in country newspapers before taking on a dream role of covering national and international sports news across the entire APN network, in early 2012.
I learnt my trade in Kingaroy, Queanbeyan and Lismore doing it all – design, photography and headline writing.
I am now the envy of all my friends and family members, now that I have the privilege of covering Origin, Bledisloe Cups, footy grand finals and other top international sporting events.
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YOU won't often hear someone say they're not happy to miss out on tackling 108kg enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

But that's what makes Cowboys prop James Tamou such a fierce competitor.

Waerea-Hargreaves will not take the field for the Roosters in this Saturday night's clash against North Queensland thanks to a five-match suspension handed down after Monday's night's match against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

The Kiwi International yesterday accepted the ban, submitting an early guilty plea for his reckless high tackle charge against opposite number George Rose, a hit that saw the Sydney prop become the first player to be sent off this season.

"It'll hopefully make us go a bit better knowing that he's not on the field, but in saying that, they've got a good team roster.

"They'll bring a really good player in for his spot."

Despite averaging almost 143m per game this season, Tamou said he believed he still needed to pick up his form to be assured of making his second-straight Origin series for New South Wales.

If he does make the Blues team, one player he would like to line up alongside is Cowboys teammate Tariq Sims.

Tamou thought Sims was going to be picked last year, but a second broken leg ended any hope of that.

After a slow start this season, Tamou said Sims was again approaching his best form.

"I'd like Tariq to come on and bring a fiery edge off the bench. Hopefully the selectors see that and hopefully he'll be picked," Tamou said.

"When he got dropped for one week (in round three), that opened his eyes up. He came out after that much better, and he got a couple of man of the match awards.

"He's picked up and I think he's Origin material."

While Tamou expressed his disappointment at Waerea-Hargreaves copping five weeks for his hit on Rose, he said lining up against the Roosters' Sonny Bill Williams made him happy the shoulder charge had been banned.

"I still remember some of the hits he put on Joel Clinton and others back in those days, so I'm glad the shoulder charge rule has been put into place," Tamou said.

"He's not only a good defender, he's got good attack and he can offload. We've just got to be aware of it."